Signs flu cases are 'plateauing', say West Mid chiefs

FLU cases at West Middlesex are beginning to 'plateau', according to staff.

The hospital has avoided the worst of the flu epidemic sweeping the country, with just four patients confirmed as having the virus so far this winter.

However, there have already been 60 suspected cases, which has put a strain on resources as each patient must be kept in isolation while awaiting test results.

West Mid's medical director Dr Stella Barnass today told the Chronicle the latest figures for London suggested flu cases were beginning to drop, with fewer suspected cases also being seen at the hospital.

"The numbers seem to be plateauing, although there's quite a lot of doubt about whether they're accurate because it's been a short week and children have just gone back to school," she said.

"We've been relatively spared but we've still had a number of suspected flu cases."

Swine flu has been responsible for the vast majority of influenza-related deaths across the country this winter but most people recover naturally from the virus within a few days.

All staff at the hospital have been offered the flu vaccine and patients in at-risk groups, including pregnant women and those who have recently given birth, have been advised to get the jab.

Posters advising people how to prevent the spread of the disease, for example by washing their hands carefully, have also gone up throughout the hospital.

People with flu-like symptoms have been urged not to visit their GP or hospital to avoid spreading the disease. They are instead advised to call their doctor or NHS Direct.

In the week after Christmas, about 140 patients across London were in critical care with flu at one point, which Dr Barnass said represented about half the capital's total capacity.

Just one patient with flu has been treated in intensive care at West Mid, which has 13 beds for critically ill patients and the option to open another six in case of emergency.

Dr Barnass said she expected the latest wave of flu to continue until about mid March.

Meanwhile, there have still only been three cases of norovirus at the hospital so far this winter.

Dr Barnass said measures such as banning staff from eating and drinking in wards and ensuring all patients who are vomiting or have diarrhoea are isolated within four hours had helped prevent the spread of the disease.

Like swine flu, norovirus is unpleasant but rarely serious. It spreads even more easily than flu and people displaying symptoms of the virus are also advised to stay at home.

Vulnerable groups of patients such as children and the elderly may need to seek medical help from their GP or NHS Direct if severely ill.